The Benefits Of Hand Pounded Spices

India is called the 'Land of Spices and Seasonings' and rightfully so. With an unmatched variety and richness, Indian spices have captured the world's attention for centuries. We turned eating into a delightful experience with our spices by tantalizing taste buds around the world.

Spices have long played a significant role in how we cook and prepare meals. People all across the world use various spices to bring their own distinct flavours and essence to their dishes. In fact, the choice of spices may make or ruin a dish.

The Secret of Pounding Spices

The secret behind the full-bodied spices lies in the way they are crushed to release essential oils. Each spice requires a specific technique to release its essence in the best way. These could be pounding, dry or wet grinding. In other words, blending everything in a blender doesn't yield the same results. 

The Benefits Hand Ground Spices

1. Richer taste

When spices are ground in a machine, the heat generated imparts a slightly burnt flavour to the spice. Hand ground spices allow for the retention of the authentic taste of spices which enhances the flavour of the dish.

2. Heady aroma

What makes a food appeasing is not just the taste but the aroma as well. Spices play a huge role in that aspect. Pounding spices by hand release the alluring essential oils. Grinding them in a food processor, on the other hand, destroys them.

3. Pleasing texture

Apart from taste and smell, the mouth-feel of spices matters, too, because textures make food interesting. Hand-ground spices have a more appealing texture. Grinding spices in a food processor annihilates such textures.

4. Retained nutrients

Spices don't just make food tasty. They are a rich source of bioactive agents that combat pathogens and aid the immune system. However, a majority of these nutrients are lost when spices are machine-ground.

Why use a Mortar & Pestle to Hand Ground Spices

A mortar and pestle won't produce heat through friction because it moves only as fast as your hands can, unlike a food processor. The traditional method preserves the intensity of the tastes while also extracting more flavour than a spinning blade.

Difference between Wooden vs. Stone Mortar & Pestle

The size and material of the mortar and pestle you want will depend on what you intend to use it for. There are many traditional grinding tools used for spices, out of which the mortar and pestle are the most popular. Many cultures have embraced mortar and pestle for an extremely long time. It is a very functional kitchen tool that can be used to powder your herbs and spices for a delicious paste or powder-like consistency. Mortar and Pestles are available in many shapes and materials like stone or wood.

Wooden mortars and pestles generally have antibacterial properties depending on the kind of wood they are made from. They tend to absorb some of the oil released while pounding the spice. A stone mortar and pestle are inert and less porous. Since the pestle is weighty, less energy is required to pound spices. It is quite versatile because it can be used for both wet as well as dry pounding of spices.

Nowadays adulteration of chemicals and artificial colours in spices has become a common practice and its very complicated for a consumer to find natural spices. Thankfully at Rural Treasures, We offer you 100% natural spices and seasonings products online in entire India that too at very nominal prices.